Social media, SEO, marketing and writingTime Capsule: Silicon Stories
I upgraded to a new laptop computer the other day (a Dell Studio 17 with lightning fast Mobile Broadband USB Modem connection– sweet). I decided to upload some old documents to my hard drive and after a few minutes, I found myself reviewing some ancient Word documents. Suddenly, there it was. A book proposal I had written in 1997 titled, Silicon Stories: Uncensored Tales From A World Gone Wired. The internet had only been accessible to the masses for a few short years when this book concept was first dreamed up. Even back then we all knew the internet was going to be big and would likely change our lives– but I always felt it would be the little stories– the honest, emotional, funny and heartwarming tales of real people that were impacted by the internet that would make this new medium worth all the hype.
Here is my original book summary, along with a sample submission I received from a member of the Apple Developer Program who was kind enough to respond to a request for story submissions. I have other small tales similar to this one that I may post in the future on this blog. In the meantime, enjoy your trip back in time to the year 1997…
Book Summary
If you’re a hard-boiled Silicon Valley entrepreneur, Silicon Stories: Uncensored Tales From A World Gone Wired is chicken soup for your hard-wired soul. If you’re just a plain old reader with an interest in technology and anecdotal storytelling, there’s something here for you to enjoy as well. This unique book captures the contradictions and everyday insanity of the computer industry and the Internet, while at the same time chipping away sardonically at the myths, legends and lies that have built up in our own time. Silicon Stories balances humor with a genuine appreciation of both the technical and not so technical accomplishments of real people who have found ways to meet the challenges of work with humor, ingenuity and imagination.
Submission from an Apple Developer
X-Sender: sperling at sojourn.com
Mime-Version: 1.0
Date: Fri, 11 Apr 1997 10:35:34 -0400
To: samsel at gte.net
From: sperling at sperling.com (tedd)
Subject: Inspirational Developer Stories
Hi Jon:
I received the Apple Developer News #52 today and read that you’re looking for “inspirational stories that explore the humanity behind the digital revolution”. Well… I got one.
First, a little back ground. I was contacted by the Wall Street Journal last year. They wanted some advise on the net which I gave them. In talking to the reporter, he inquired as to my background and my “story”. I told him.
After a couple of months, this reporter contact me again and said that he wanted to do an article about me. He asked if I could put together some things for him. I wrote and sent him the attached story “Net WORKS”.
He liked it, but his boss said that they needed more people like me to make a story. His boss didn’t want to do one story about one person. As such, he never found another person like me and that’s the end of that story.
Now, you come along asking for a story, well here’s one. You may use as you wish. Everything written herein is true.
Good luck, and let me know what you think.
tedd
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Net WORKS
We’ve all heard about the young whiz kids, cyberdudes, and computer jocks who are doing something new, hot, and fascinating with computers and the internet. But, who are these people? The answer may surprise you.
Let’s take a look at one of them. He calls himself “tedd” and has an email address of “sperling@sperling.com”. He provides Macintosh programming and consulting to the net. He has done a lot of exciting things and people have taken notice. His client’s range from large companies (like DOW Chemical) to the small “mom & pop” independants. His accomplishments are many and perhaps too many for his youthful image. Let’s peel away the cyber-veneer and see who this person is.
Tedd F. Sperling is a 50 year old professional who was originally from California and now resides in Lansing, Michignan. Tedd graduated California State University in 1975 with a BS degree (cum laude) in Geology. He later received an MS in Geophysics from Michigan State University.
In 1977, he started a Geophysical exploration company (Sperling Geophysics Corporation) and provided geophysical services for the petroleum community. In the 1980’s, Tedd found over 100 producing wells and generated over 2.5 million in consulting. He developed the first micro computer (Apple II) based seismic modeling workstation and was credited with the first micro-computer oil discovery.
The business was successful and life was great. However, it all ended in 1992. The oil and gas industry, which had been on the decline for several years, finally dusted for his business. While his business did not bankrupt, he found himself “unemployed”. A condition found far too often in today’s business climate that has been producing large numbers of unemployed middle-aged professionals due to down-sizing, layoffs, and the new practice of hiring cheap young replacements.
During the next one and a half years, Tedd sent out over 1,000 resumes and received 11 interviews. All interviews ended with “I’m sorry, but you are overqualified for the position.”. His last interview ended with his interviewer saying “Well… we were actually looking for somebody a little younger.” At that point, Tedd thought would his next position be one that includes the phrase “Will you have fries with that?”.
During a continued and determined effort to find employment, he logged on to the internet and started sending out more resumes. He opened several freenet accounts in places like Detroit, Youngstown, Denver, Columbus, Traverse City, and Buffalo, New York. He sent email resumes to every lead he could find. But, he received little response. However, in the meantime he became net savvy.
A friend of Tedd’s, from the oil industry, had to go to Malaysia on business and commented to Tedd about the communication problems he was going to have keeping in touch with his wife in Arizona. So, Tedd got on the net and found several avenues for his friend to communicate with his wife for little, or no, money. In a similar situation, he helped another person in Michigan who was from Argentina establish communication with his family through the net for no expense. The more time Tedd spent on the net, the more his focus became providing assistance for others.
Tedd started frequenting several news groups on the net and helping others with questions. As he did, he became aware of what actions and conduct the net accepted and rejected about employment. He found that selling yourself on the net was much different from what he expected. Tedd said “No one wants to hear how good you are. They just want answers. Whoever provides the answers, will get the attention.”.
The key to Tedd’s success on the net has been his willingness to help others. Every time he posts an answer to a question posed by some newbie, his answer is posted with a subtle signature block that simply states “mac programmer” and includes links to his email address and his web resume.
Tedd explains that potential clients looking for computer professionals will often “lurk” around news groups and observe the question and answer exchange. If they like your answers, and need your services, they will check you out, and contact you.
Tedd likes this new way of doing business. He now consults with no cash outlay for advertising, no meetings, no suits, no regimented work day, and no comments about his age. To the majority of his clients, he is a young computer whiz kid. An image that Tedd doesn’t discourage. In fact, Tedd has picked up the jargon of the net and often uses terms like “kewl” in business proposals. Tedd says “It’s almost expected to be unconventional. If the employers can’t have you under their thumb in the conventional 8 to 5 environment, then they react the other way and want the eccentric programmer.” Many clients find it novel to pose a problem to Tedd and then forget it while Tedd provides a solution.
His work on the net has been so successful, that he has other programmers working for him. Tedd says “I find programmers the same way as those who find me, I lurk. When a person has the right answers and I like his style, I contact him. I commonly provide sub-contracting work for a 20% commission and most of the work is done without any contracts.” As Tedd puts it “If you don’t trust your people, don’t hire them. Besides, many of the contacts I have are global and the expenses of global litigation make contracts a moot point. I just don’t have time for it.”
Tedd adds, “The net has been one of the most fascinating experiences of my life. The people there are brilliant, honest, caring and very giving of their time and talents. The generosity I have seen on the net is unbelievable. The net provides an avenue for people to put aside non-relevant discriminatory practices and deal with other people on a pure aspect of worth.”
Tedd
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|[ ]| mac programmer tedd f. sperling
|[__]| mailto: sperling at sperling.com
|___-| http://www.sojourn.com/~sperling/resume.html
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